Page 55 of 288

55 Instruments and controls
Warning, charging
This light will come on together with if
the battery is discharging. If it comes on
while you are driving, stop the car as soon
as possible and switch off the engine.
Check the alternator drive belt (see page
212). If the belt has broken, the engine may
overheat (cooling system will not function
properly), the battery will not be charged,
the A/C compressor will not run and power
assistance for the steering will be lost.
Brake warning light
This light will come on together with if
there is insufficient brake fluid in the reser-
voir (see pages 208).
If the ABS warning light is on at the same
time, the ABS system may be inoperative
because of a fault (see ”Anti-lock brake
warning”, page 56).
Parking brake warning
light
This light will show when the parking brake
is on (see page 196).
If the car is driven with the parking brake still
on, will also come on and a chime will
sound.
The parking brake is mechanical and oper-
ates on the rear wheels.
WARNING
Never drive the car when these warning
lights are on. Danger of brake failure!
Have the brake system checked at once
by an authorized Saab dealer.
WARNING
Always apply the parking brake when
parking, see page 196.
Always apply the parking brake
before removing the ignition key.
Do not apply the parking brake while
the car is moving.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 56 of 288

56 Instruments and controls
Anti-lock brake warning
This light will come on if a fault has occurred
in the ABS system.
On certain variants and as well
as can light up to indicate a fault in the
electronic brake force distribution system
(distribution of the brake pressure between
the front and rear wheels).
Conventional braking without the ABS func-
tion will still be available.
For safety reasons, stop the car and check
the level of the brake fluid (see page 208).If the level is normal, depress the brake
pedal firmly two or three times. Now check
the level again. If the level is still normal, you
may drive the car, with considerable cau-
tion, to the nearest authorized Saab dealer
to have the brake system checked.
Airbag warning light
This light together with will come on if
a potentially serious fault has occurred in
the airbag system.
The light will come on for about three sec-
onds when the ignition switch is turned to
the Start or Drive position. It should go out
after the engine has started.
WARNING
If the ABS is inoperative, there is a
danger of the rear wheels locking up
on hard braking.
If the level of brake fluid in the reser-
voir is below the MIN mark, the car
should be towed to an authorized
Saab dealer.
WARNING
If the airbag readiness light stays on
after you start your vehicle, it means
the airbag system may not be working
properly. One or more of the following
conditions may occur:
- Non-deployment of the airbags in the
event of a crash.
- Deployment of the airbags without a
crash.
- Deployment of the airbags in
crashes less severe than intended.
To help avoid injury to yourself or
others, have your vehicle serviced
right away if the airbag readiness light
stays on after you start your vehicle.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 68 of 288

68 Instruments and controlsThe following conditions will wake up the
respective displays in the Night-Panel
mode:
Setting of the Audio system, SID or ACC
(display comes on for ten seconds).
CHECK message generated in the SID.
High engine revs cause the rev counter to
be illuminated until the engine speed has
fallen again.
If the quantity of fuel remaining falls below
4 gallons (15 liters), the fuel gauge will be
illuminated.
If the engine temperature rises above nor-
mal, the temperature gauge will be illumi-
nated.
If the speed of the car exceeds 84 mph
(135 km/h), the entire speedometer will
be illuminated.
In cars with automatic transmission, if the
selector lever is moved from D to position
M or L, the selector indication on the main
instrument panel will be illuminated.
To restore the displays and lighting to the
normal mode, press the Night-Panel button.
Units and language versionsThe SID has four sets of units:
CHECK messages can be displayed in six
language options: English, Swedish,
German, French, Italian and Spanish. Selecting units and language 1 Press CLEAR and SET simultaneously
for four seconds until a chime sounds.
2 Press or to select the
required units.
3 Touch SET.
4 Press or to select the
required language.
5 Touch SET.
Clock Set the clock by means of the two buttons
under the digital clock on the left of the dis-
play.
When the ignition key is in the OFF position
or removed, the clock can be illuminated
(approx. 10 seconds) by pressing one of
the SID buttons (not the NIGHT PANEL but-
ton). METRIC IMP. 1 IMP. 2 US
km miles miles miles
km/h mph mph mph
liters UK gal UK gal US gal
°C °F °C °F
24-hour 12-hour 12-hour 12-hour
ProCarManuals.com
Page 69 of 288

69 Instruments and controls
Switches
Daytime running lights
The parking lights and daytime running
lights come on automatically when the igni-
tion switch is ON.
Note to owners in the U.S.: If you do not
want Daytime Running Lights, this feature
can be disconnected: switch off the engine
and remove fuse No. 35 (see page 229).
Note to owners in Canada: Daytime Run-
ning Lights must not be disconnected as
they are a Canadian Federal legal require-
ment.
Parking lights
The parking lights can be switched on
regardless of the position of the ignition
switch. Do not use parking lights when driv-
ing.
Note: The lighting switch must be in parking
light or headlight position (low beam posi-
tion only) to operate the fog lights (see page
72).
Headlights
The headlights come on automatically when
the ignition is ON and go off when the igni-
tion switch is turned to the LOCK position.
The parking lights, however, can be on
when the ignition switch is in the LOCK posi-
tion. High/low beamTo switch between high and low beam, pull
the control stalk fully towards you
(position 2). When the high beam is on, the
indicator on the main instrument panel will
be illuminated.
High beam flasher The headlights come on to high beam when
the stalk is pulled to the first spring-loaded
position (position 1) and remain on until the
stalk is released.
IB1594
121 High beam signal
2 High/low beam switching
IB350
Light switches
ProCarManuals.com
Page 78 of 288

78 Instruments and controlsFunctionsPressing AUTO will cancel all manual settings.
If a manual function is selected, it will be locked in but other functions
will be controlled automatically.
The selected temperature is always maintained automatically.
Temperature, air distribution, fan speed and
recirculation will all be controlled automatically.
In falling temperatures the A/C compressor is
switched off at 32°F (0°C).
In rising temperatures the A/C compressor is
switched on at 41°F (+5°C).
If at the start the outside air temperature is 32–41°F
(0 – +5°C), the A/C compressor is switched off.
Pressing AUTO once will cancel all previous
manual selections.
Pressing AUTO a second time will result in all the
automatically selected settings being displayed. When the engine is started, the A/C system is in
AUTO mode, apart from any currently set program,
see page 81 and 82).
IB370
A/C compressor OFF.
No cooling of inlet air. Temperature, air distribution
and fan speed still under automatic control.
ACC system OFF.
Fa n OF F.
A/C compressor OFF.
War m air OFF.
Air-distribution selections locked in current settings.
Recirculation can be selected manually.
Pressing the AUTO button will put the system into
automatic mode.
Pressing the OFF button again will result in the sys-
tem reverting to any previous manual settings.
IB371IB372
ProCarManuals.com
Page 85 of 288
85 Saab 9-5 Audio System
Saab 9-5 Audio
SystemQuick guide to the Saab
9-5 Audio System ____ 87
Sound controls _______ 89
Radio _______________ 90
Cassette player _______ 92
CD player ____________ 95
CD changer __________ 97
Programmable functions 101
Steering-wheel controls 102
Security lock _________ 103
Technical data ________ 104
Fault codes __________ 106
IB1940
ProCarManuals.com
Page 87 of 288

87 Saab 9-5 Audio System
Quick guide to the
Saab 9-5 Audio System Radio (see page 90)
ON
To switch the system ON, press the volume but-
ton. The last settings used will be activated.
If the Audio System is switched on when the igni-
tion key is not in the switch, the system will auto-
matically be switched off after one hour has
elapsed since a control button on the radio was
last pressed.
OFF
To switch the system OFF, press the volume but-
ton or remove the ignition key.
VOL
To adjust the volume, rotate the VOL control.
BAL
To adjust the balance between the left and right
channels, pull out and turn the VOL control.
BAS
Press to release the button, and adjust the bass
level. Lock the setting by pushing the button in.
TRE
Press to release the button, and adjust the tre-
ble. Lock the setting by pushing the button in.
FAD
Press to release the button, and adjust the fade
between the front and rear sets of speakers.
Lock the setting by pushing the button in.
VOL
BAL ON
PULL PUSH
TREFAD BAS
Preset station buttons
Press once: play the preset station.
Press & hold briefly: store a new station.
Auto tuning
Press once: auto (seek) tuning.
Press & hold briefly (a chime will sound):
manual tuning.
Press once: Autostore ON/OFF.
Press & hold briefly: automatic tuning and
storing of the 6 strongest stations.
Press once: change waveband.
Press once: activate radio.
2 13
5 46SEEKASSEARCH
ProCarManuals.com
Page 89 of 288

89 Saab 9-5 Audio System
Sound controlsON/OFF The Audio System will come on:
• When the volume control is pressed.
When the ignition is switched ON, if the
Audio System was on when the ignition
key was last removed.
The Audio System will be switched off:
When the volume control is pressed.
When the ignition key is removed.
One hour after the ignition was switched
OFF, if the ignition key has not been
removed.
When one hour has elapsed since a con-
trol button on the Audio System was last
pressed after the ignition key was
removed. VOL – Volume
BAL – Balance Pull out and rotate the VOL control to adjust
the balance between the left and right
speakers. When the control is released, it
reverts to the volume function.
BAS – Bass
TRE – Treble Rotate clockwise to increase the level and
counter-clockwise to reduce it.
The Bass and Treble controls must be
pressed first to release them.
FAD – Fader The fader control adjusts the balance
between the front and rear sets of speakers.
The Fader controls must be pressed first to
release it.
IB1842
ProCarManuals.com